HEALTH Minister Jane Hutt pledged last night to implement controversial plans to reform the NHS even though they face widespread opposition.

HEALTH Minister Jane Hutt pledged last night to implement controversial plans to reform the NHS even though they face widespread opposition.

An investigation by The Western Mail has revealed serious doubts about some of the fundamental principles of her plan to replace the five Welsh health authorities with 37 new structures.

But despite serious reservations expressed in the majority of 356 responses to a National Assembly consultation, Ms Hutt said last night she would be "moving immediately to implementation" regardless of the outcome of next week's Assembly debate.

Community health councils, NHS Trust chief executives, the voluntary sector, the Patients' Association, nurses, consultants, midwives and many GPs all have doubts about the cost and accountability of the new structure.

But last night a spokeswoman for Ms Hutt continued to insist that key players had given their "full support". A pack was also released to the press of 13 positive responses.

Liz Hewett, secretary of the RCN in Wales, said, "The reforms have our partial support, but we still have concerns and reservations regarding staff capacity and affordability."

Welsh MPs were given access to a summary of the 356 responses only on Tuesday morning, although they had to debate the reforms in Parliament that afternoon.

The responses containing some of the most serious reservations have been "anonymised" by National Assembly officials.

This was at the request of individuals who wished to keep their identity secret, the Assembly said.

But two of the responses were those of Welsh MPs and former Welsh health ministers Jon Owen Jones and Win Griffiths who made no such request.

Both MPs believe the changes will mean the creation of 22 quangos.

"Hardly the bonfire promise made by Ron Davies AM," Mr Jones said.

Although Jane Hutt has revised some of her proposals following consultation, the core principles of the plan remain unpopular.

Vanessa Bourne, chairwoman of the Patients' Association in Wales, said the new system would not be cost-neutral.

"Morale is low and sinking among all staff groups in the NHS undefined how will these proposals encourage the best to work in Wales?"

Rosamund Thomas, chairwoman of the Vale of Glamorgan Community Health Council, said, "Patients are far more interested in receiving prompt attention than in understanding the intricacies of the NHS. The proposals are far more complex than the current arrangements."

The Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting feared the new structure would need more investment, not less.

"We would question the validity of diverting money from patient care into structures and processes that do not appear to show tangible patient benefit."

One of the 36 "anonymised" responses read, "None of the proposals seem to address the manpower shortage problems of both recruitment and retention. This exercise must not turn into a basic recycling exercise."

The structures' reforms have the support of the Welsh Local Government Association, local health group chairpersons and the Welsh NHS Confederation although 80pc of its management members expressed grave concerns about the reforms.

The BMA has also expressed broad support but said it was still building on the detail.

Ms Hutt said last night, "The conclusions have received widespread support - it would be misleading to suggest otherwise and an insult to those who took part in the consultation.

"Following the debate at the Assembly we will be moving immediately to implementation. That is what the service wants."